Soldier s ammunition equipment



4 R O N N O m 0 S SOLDIERS AMMUNITION EQUIPMENT.

Patented Nov. 22, 1887. 1

WITNESSES @WM [fin 7 Attarney N. PETERS, Fmw-mm mmr. Waxhingtm o. C.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 S. OOONNOR.

SOLDIERS AMMUNITION EQUIPMENT.

Patented Nov. 22,1887.

.Httorney n PETERS. Phntomm n mr. Wilhiflglom n; c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. I S. OOONNOR'.

SOLDIBRS AMMUNITION EQUIPMENT. No. 373,681. Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

WITNESSES IJVV'EJVZ'OR flttorney (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

S. OGONNOR.

SOLDIERS AMMUNITION EQUIPMENT. No. 373,681. Patented Nov, 22, 1887.

12 J a 7 iijfii E V XMZZ v I'Nk'i/ V2 W N. PETERS Plwlwljihccphnr, Walhinglm 0.0

UNITED in'rlss Parent trio's.

STEPHEN OCONNOR, OF FORT \VAYNE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO GEORGE K. BRADY, OF FORT ORAW'FORD, COLORADO.

SOLDIERS AMMUNITION EQUlPMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

373,681, dated November 22, 1887.

Application filed March 23, 1581'. Serial No. 232,13l. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN OCoNNoR, of

Fort \Vayne, county of VV-ayne, Slate of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Soldiers Ammunition Equipment; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and useit, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists ofthe combinations of devices and appliances hereinafter specified, and moreparticularly poi nted out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view ofan ammunition equipmentand harness embodying my invention and showing by dotted lines at the base the locality of my cartridgebelt. Fig. 2 is a central section from front to rear, showing parts in elevation, of my cartridge-yoke without my cartridgebelt harness. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my cartridge-yoke, showing the cartridgesin position, the rows being advanced, with the exception of the por tion opposite the neck, so as to carry its line of gravity farther forward. Fig. i represents a variation in which the yoke is adapted both as a provision-box and as a cartridge-holder. Fig. 5 is adctached viewshowing the webbing adapted to receive packages of cartridges instead of separate cartridges for the yoke. Fig. 6 is a view of my improved cartridge equipment, illustrating the belt only as attached to the harness and with the yoke removed. Fig. 7 is a separate view illustrating the flexible rail at the top of the cartridge-belt which engages the traversing rollers. Fig. 8 is a detail view in elevation of the cartridge-belt. Fig. 9 is a detail view in section of the same. Fig. 10 illustrates how the webbing on the belt may be made to receive packages of cartridges instead of separate cartridges. Fig. 11 is a cross-section of the piping or cartridge-pockets employed on the yoke.

It is the object of this invention to produce an ammunition equipment for a soldier which will enable him to carry conveniently a large quantity of ammunition-as, for instance, two hundred and fifty rou nds-the same so constructed that a portion may be carried directly upon the shoulders and the remainder in a belt or heavy woven fabric.

1 about the. waist-in either case, however, the

apparatus being adapted to sustain the weight from the shoulders.

The invention also consists in combining a cartridge-carrier with a ration-box; also, in the peculiar construction of the cartridge-belt and means for rotating the belt about the body; also, in other novel features of construction of the harness and the various parts of the entire apparatus.

In carrying out my invention, A represents a yoke of suitable size for receiving and supporting a quantity of cartridges. I do not limit myselfto any particular shape or size of this yoke.

To construct the yoke I take a piece of suitable material, A. It may be either still or flexible, although I prefer to make it flexible throughout, and so prefer to use rubber, leather, In this an opening, A is formed to accommodate the neck of the wearer. There is built upon this, by means of similar flexible or other suitable materiaha box, A, in which it is designed to carry unbroken packages of cartridges, and a lid, A}, may be hinged thereto at its rear edge in any convenient way, and fastened by straps and buckles a. or other fastenings at its forward edge when closed. The under portion of this yoke is provided with padding A so as to distribute the weight upon all parts of the shoulder and across the back and shoulderblades. Upon the top of the yoke in front at each side of the neck is provided suitable pockets, a, for the reception of the separate cartridges. So, also, there is a similar series of pockets arranged along the whole length of the yoke back of the neck of the wearer. These pockets may be formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material. I prefer, however, to form them of fabric, with pip may be employed alone without this harness, and in that event might be attached solely by straps A, as shown in Fig. 2, one at each end ofthe yoke adapted to pass around under each arm.

The harness for supporting the cartridgebelt and for the attachment of the yoke may consist of any suitable arrangement of straps. The following, however, is deemed a good arrangement: Two shoulder-straps, B, extend from the belt over the shoulder and down again to the belt. A brace-strap, B, unites them at the back, and a similar strap, B, unites them by abuckle in front. A loop, B", passes under each arm and from that depends ahanger, B A similar hanger, B engages the belt-strap behind the back, and farther up is divided off to the two shoulder-straps, as shown. These are all united at the base by rivets or otherwise to astrap, Bflwhich passes around the waist, and its ends are united by a buckle. It is seen that by loosening the buckles at the waist and breast theharness may be readily thrown off. Buckles b are provided on the shoulder-straps to engage straps b "on the yoke, and I prefer to provide two or more such buckles on each shoulder strap, so as to admitof an adjustment of the shoulder-straps toward or from the points of the shoulders to suit the convenience and comfort of thewearer.

My improved cartridge-belt is constructed as follows: There is a foundation or bed piece of rubber, leather, canvas, or other fabric, 0. To this is connected suitable pockets, 0, for receiving the separate cartridges. If onetier of cartridges is to be carried, there is of course one set of pockets. If two tiers of cartridges are to be carried, there is an upper and a lower series of pockets. These pockets I prefer to make in the usual way of a webbing of fabric with the pockets in the nature of pi ping,which project from the outer face of the said webbing. So, also, where arranged for two tiers ofcartridges, I prefer that the lower webbing shall be of sufficientwidth to embrace substantially the whole length of the cartridge-shell, so that the cartridge-flange shall rest upon the upper edge of the pocket. The webbing for the upper tier should then be arranged so as to leave a space of an inch (more or less) between the upper and lower piping, so as to facilitate the ready insertion and removal of the cartridges from the latter. The upper tier of pockets should be arranged in quineunx order with respect to the lower tier, so that the balls of the upper cartridges shall rest between the lower cartridges and not upon their primers. This belt is clasped in the usual way about the body by one or more straps and buckles, 0. At intervals along the length of the belt are metallic straps 0'. These are secured to the belt by eyelets and lacing, so as to admit of removing them, or adjusting them to different points on the'belt; or they may be secured by eyelets or rivets, which fasten them securely to the belt. They serve to stiffen the belt from edge to edge. They also have their upper ends carried over and riveted to a flexible metallic rail, G -for instance, as shown in detail in Fig. 9. This rail isjointed at intervals, as shown in Fig. 7, so as to flex about vertical pivots. each section being also slightly curved. This rail is provided at its free ends with any suitable means for uniting them, so as to make the rail continuous-as, for instance, by a telescopic joint. Instead of the flexible rail, a suitable band of spring metal might be substituted with asuitable clip for uniting its ends. At the bottom of each depending strap of the harness is an open link, G, bearing a pulley-or roller, 0', so that the said metallic rail may be passed into the open link and rest upon the pulleys. The body side of the belt 0 is preferably of glazed material, so as to readily slide upon the clothes of the wearer. It is thus seen that the belt can be traversed around the body, so as to bring the cartridges to the hand of the wearer, and this is efi'ected by the rail moving upon the rollers 0 the open link which retains the roller serving as a guard to prevent accidental disengagement of the rail.

The piping a upon the yoke A and the piping 0 upon the belt 0 may each of them be made of asize sufficient to take a package of cartridges, instead of a single cartridge, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10 at c but I would have it understood that this construction is especially adapted f0? carrying cartridges done up in packages for magazine-guns. The lower tier of pockets (shown in Fig. 10) upon the belt would have to be closed at the bottom to prevent the packages from dropping through; but in the upper tier the lower edges of the packages would rest upon the upper edges of the packages below.

The yoke A may be made in a single piece with a neck-opening large enough to accommodate any wearer, or it may be divided at one or more points, as shown at a in Fig. 3, in which event suitable lacing should be provided at these points, the object being to lengthen or shorten the yoke to suit the comfort of the wearer. So, also, I would have 'it understood that, as shown in Fig. 1, the rear tier of cartridges may extend in a linefrorn end to end of the yoke; or, as shown in Fig. 3, that portion immediately back of the neck may be arranged along the rear of the yoke, while the remaining portions may be brought forward upon both sides of the neck, so as to ICC IIC

bring the heavier portions or the bullet ends I would first arrange ninety of them in the two tiers of the belt.

I would then locate twenty cartridges upon the forward edge of the yoke on both sides of the neck in two tiers each, and I prefer, as shown in, Fig. 3,.

that the shells project forward somewhat over the edge of the yoke. I would then open the box A and place within it, preferably in packages, sixty cartridges in two tiers. Then having closed the lid I would arrange sixty car tridges upon the lid in two tiers, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. There is thus provided a supply of two hundred and fifty rounds of cartridges, and all of those upon the belt and those in view upon the yoke in Fig. l are readily accessible by the hand of the soldier. To accommodate this one hundred and sixty rounds of cartridges on the yoke would require a structure about eighteen inches in length and five inches in breadth at the base, leaving three inches back and two inches in front of the line which forms the forward edge of the box A, which line thus becomes substantially the line of gravity. It is thus seenthat the load is distributed directly over the shoulders, so as neither to drag backward nor pitch for ward.

Care should be taken to so pad the yoke beneath as to relieve from pressure the upper portion of the spine.

The paddingat the extremities is so disposed as to permit the load to rest easily without cramping the shoulders and so as to permit a free use of the arms in aiming and loading the piece.

The straps beneath the arms are relieved from strain, so as not to in uriously effect the axillary nerves. Theshodlder-straps are carried well toward the shoulders to avoid compression of the lungs and heart, and the breaststrap should for the same reason be arranged well up toward the neck. The belt by this construction is suspended wholly from the shoulders, as it should be, and so the kidneys, the liver, and stomach are relieved from in- 40 jurions pressure.

In Fig. 4 is shown a variation, in which the yoke is adapted for carrying provisions, and may also carry, as before explained, one hun dred rounds of cartridges upon its top. It is of course apparent that the box here exhibited might be filled with packages of cartridges as well as with provisions. I would have it understood that this harness and belt may be employed withoutthe yoke; also, that the yoke may be employed alone, either with or without the harness; also, that if the yoke and harness are employed together it may be either with or without the cartridge-belt. So, also, I would have it understood that while this has been described and illustrated as acartridge equipment, the same is equally adapted for the use of sportsmen who find it necessary to carry a considerable quantity of ammunition. So, also, the straps represented in the drawings may be of leather, or they may be of waterproof or other fabric-much as webbing or canvas.

As the cartridges are represented in Fig. 1, the yoke with its charge would be about one inch and a quarter in vertical thickness at its forward edge, and about two and a half inches in thickness along its rear or higher portion.

It isthus apparent that it will not interfere with the convenient carrying of a gun upon the right or left shoulder, and in order to preserve the stock of the gun from injury by rubbing against the cartridge-shells, I propose to provide suitable cushions, A, which shall project forward over the edges of the cartridges. These cushions may be suitably attached to the piping a, and be flexible, so as to admit of ready access to the cartridges beneath. I purpose, also, to provide the shoulder-strapsv of the harness with rests of metal or other suitable material, the same to be located so as to support the lower rear edge of the yoke. Such rests are indicated at If in Fig. 1.

When the yoke is used without the cartridge-belt and harness, it would be desirable to employ a tight belt about the waist and connected with the yoke by suitable straps. The strap B may be made of sufficient width to answer the purposes of such a tight belt, the same being properly strapped to the yoke.

In a device of the above description a soldier in expending ammunition has full power to regulate and maintain the proper distribution of weight by first using the cartridges on the yoke, and then the top row of the belt, before those in the lower row of the belt are touched.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1, An ammunition equipment consisting of a yoke havingin combination therewith means for securing it to the shoulders of the wearer, said yoke provided with a series of cartridge pockets, substantially as described.

2. An ammunition equipment consisting of a yoke havingin combination therewith means for securingit upon the shoulders of the wearer, said yoke provided with one or more boxes and with a series of cartridge-pockets,substantially as described.

3. An ammunition equipment consisting of ayoke having in combination therewith a suitable harness provided with an ammunitionbelt at its base, said belt and yoke provided. with cartridge-pockets, substantially. as described.

4. An ammunition equipment consisting of a yoke having in combination therewith a suitable harness provided with a revolving ammunition-beltat its base,said belt and yoke provided with a seriesbf cartridge-pockets, substantially as described.

5. An ammunition equipment consisting of a yoke provided with means for engaging the same upon the shoulders of the wearer, said yoke provided with one or more boxes and a series of cartridge-pockets, and suitable padding engaged with the under side of said yoke, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. An ammunition equipment consisting of a yoke provided with means for engaging the same upon the shoulders of the wearer, said yoke constructed to receive individual cartridges or packages of cartridges, substantially as described.

7. The harness consisting of shoulder-straps,

breast and back straps, and suspendingstraps, a belt uniting the lower extremities of said suspending straps, having in combination therewith a cartridge-belt supported about the waist upon said harness, the construction being such that said cartridge-belt will be supported upon the shoulders of the wearer, substantially as described.

8. A cartridge-yoke adapted to rest upon and with means for securing it to the shoulders of the wearer, the same provided with pockets formed of webbing or fabric, with piping projecting therefrom and adapted for receiving and retaining the individual cartridges, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. A cartridge-yoke adapted to rest upon and means for securing it to the shoulders of the wearer, said yoke adapted to receive and retain a quantity of cartridges upon both sides of the neck of the wearer, and another quantity extending from shoulder to shoulder back of the neck of the wearer, substantially as described.

10. A cartridge-yoke, A, adapted to lie-supported upon the shoulders of the wearer, the same divided at one or more points and provided at these points with adjustable fastenings, whereby the yoke may be lengthened or shortened to accommodate the wearer, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a cartridge-belt, of a flexible rail adapted to engage and traverse upon rollers connected with the harness, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. The combination, with aharness,of rollat its upper edge, adapted to engage and traverse upon the said rollers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. The combination,with a cartridge-belt, harness straps C, and links C, of a flexible rail made up of curved sections united by vertical pivots at their extremities, said rail being movably supported in said links, substantially as and for the purposes described.

14. The harness consisting of shoulderstraps, breast and back straps, and suspending-straps, provided with a belt uniting the lower extremities of their depending ends, the same adapted to sustain the cartridge-belt and to support the yoke-upon the shoulders, substantially as and for the purpose described.

15. The combination, with a cartridge-belt, of a lower tier of piping adapted to receive cartridges projecting therein to their flanges, and an upper tier of piping an inch (more or less) above the former and adapted to receive cartridges in quincunx order with respect to the lower tier, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN O CONNOR.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, M. B. ODoGHER'rY. 

